Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Symbolism in Jekyll and Hyde - Coggle Diagram
Symbolism in Jekyll and Hyde
Windows and Doors
The appearance of doors are used in the novel to reflect the personalities of the characters. For example ,Jekyll's door is described as wearing " a great air of wealth and comfort.'', whereas Hyde's door is described as "blistered and distrained" which is a reflection of Hyde's insidious nature .
Windows are symbolic of transparency and lack of secrecy. Therefore , when Hyde's house is described to be a "windowless structure" , not only is a sense of the Gothic is created , but we are led to believe that Hyde is secretive.
Lastly, doors are used to hint at the duality of the mind of Jekyll and Hyde. Hyde's door appears to reflect sin and Jekyll's door reflects wealth and goodness. Yet they are virtually the same building. The structure of their split house is symbolic of the Jekyll's body which is also split
The walking stick of Sir Danvers Carew
The walking stick was given by Utterson and used by Hyde to kill Carew.
The cane attack is used to develop the excess aggression of Hyde . Stevenson uses this too create a iniquitous reputation for Hyde .
This also relates Utterson to the crime . Utterson had given the cane to Jekyll , so he worries for Jekyll and he feels guilty as he feels responsible for the crime.
The house and the laboratory
The architecture of Jekyll's house is symbolic of the morality of the characters , the duality of Jekyll's mind , the secrecy within the characters and the gothic genre.
Soho London is described as "dark and dingy".
It is used to symbolise the inner wickedness of the characters as the novel suggests that people who live in a sinful place are sinful themselves. A sense of hypocrisy is also implied as well respected Victorian gentleman like Utterson and Jekyll are also evil. This is supported by Jekyll's sinful past.
Ape like appearance
'Ape like fury" suggests that Jekyll's transformation into Hyde is atavistic .
' bestial avidity" Perhaps echoes the Darwian perspective of evolution that humans came from ape's and lesser evolved species .
At heart ,the atavistic description of Hyde is symbolic of what Stevenson thinks is the true identity of a human. He takes a Jungian approach in that he believes that beyond the facade of civilisation , there is an "anime" or shadow which is sinful.
darkness and light is symbolic of morality . London is dark therefore the city and the characters inside have a perverse morality.
Fog is used as a symbol of secrecy. In the novel gossip is the destroyer of reputation and the characters seek to conceal the haunting truth. This shown in Jekyll where he separates is younger sinful self from himself.
The novel is expressed through letters and perspectives. This gives the impression that the events in the novel are witness statements in a criminal trial. This is supported by Utterson , a lawyer playing detective and the very title of the novel , "the strange case ..."
The white powder that Hyde takes to kill himself is cyanate
the potion that Jekyll takes which initiates Jekyll's metamorphosis into Hyde as similarities with alcohol . It is addictive, it separates the sin from Jekyll.